Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Ok, so basing is something I've always neglected.

Finally getting round to it with a mixture of units.
Some painted, some undercoated, some new.

-Mixed PVA White Glue and Water, spread on to base
-Placed model/base in tub of Woodland Scenic ballast
-Shaken off and placed to dry.

Next steps
- New Models: Easy really, I guess just undercoat the model and base.
- Undercoated models: Uhhh, re-undercoat I guess?

- Painted models: These are the tricky ones. I've tried applying small dabs of the glue mixture on the dried ballast and saturated it with the mixture to give it more adhesion, but I'm not sure if that'll work or not? (Still drying whilst I'm at work).
Does anyone have any advice or tips/hints for basing already painted models?

Exacto scraper blade and remove the painted model and then prepare the base?

If not, use glue and fine ballast, carefully paint the ballast and around the feet, use a wash to for depth and around the feet where you may have missed a spot, carefully dry brush, use grass or tufts to hide crimes.

 Beatonator wrote:
Ok, so basing is something I've always neglected.

Finally getting round to it with a mixture of units.
Some painted, some undercoated, some new.

-Mixed PVA White Glue and Water, spread on to base
-Placed model/base in tub of Woodland Scenic ballast
-Shaken off and placed to dry.

After this step, you want to spritz (I use a mix in a squirt bottle) the base again in a 50/50 mix of PVA/glue, with a drop of rinse aid (or flow aid), to really help everything adhere. It may not be strictly necessary in many circumstances, but it's the easiest way to both varnish and make sure everything is securely glued.

Next steps
- New Models: Easy really, I guess just undercoat the model and base.
- Undercoated models: Uhhh, re-undercoat I guess?

- Painted models: These are the tricky ones. I've tried applying small dabs of the glue mixture on the dried ballast and saturated it with the mixture to give it more adhesion, but I'm not sure if that'll work or not? (Still drying whilst I'm at work).
Does anyone have any advice or tips/hints for basing already painted models?

Remove the base from the model. Use a sturdy box cutter. You can also cut the base off the model, if you're desperate and it's just not coming off the base. But usually a box cutter works just fine. Just be careful obviously, as you'll be using a lot more force than usual in modeling, so it's easier to cut your self badly. Make sure you're cutting away from you! I position the base and model parallel to the desk so I can cut down ward without too much lost force or accidentaly cutting myself. You will likely cut the desk though so make sure you have a pad or it's an old desk you don't care about.

You can carefully base models that are already painted though it takes longer. I would tape off the legs of the model if possible, or other parts that touch the base. Make sure you've already varnished the model, it'll make it easier to get anything off that accidentally gets on the model.

Otherwise what I do is just use more straight PVA, not as much water, as you want to control the flow. Push the glue around the base using an old brush, taking care to miss the model. Dip model in your ballast or whatever base you're using. Let dry. Clean up as needed.

Pro to basing models that are already painted: You don't have to worry about getting them on the base just right as can sometimes be difficult when doing basing first, then putting models on afterwards. Especially if you need to drill into the base to pin the model in place so it has a stronger bond with the base.

Con: of course it's a bit harder and you don't have as much leeway with the basing itself.

Good luck =)

I've always just resorted to watering down a little black paint and dying the recesses of the sand. The drybrushing always picks out the raised areas so you can't tell the difference once it's all wrapped up.

I always paint my model first then do the bases. I do like a 75/25 mix of PVA glue and water. I get and cheap brush and paint the glue on. Then dip into my basing ballast/sand/whatever the theme is. Tilt model sideways and tap excess off and let dry.

Sometimes I get issues with the ballast/sand still being flakey and not setting when i paint.

What i have found is to get a 2nd small bowl of Glue/water ; like 25 % glue/75 % water and dip the mini carefully into the water mix until it covers all the sand, then pull it out. This will soak the top layer and seal the basing material in.

Then get cheap acrylic paints, water down 50/50 and do my base color and drybrush colors. I will leave a little area around the feet and carefully paint this area with a brush.

Did this a bunch, even on 15mm Flames of War, and that was a pain to base, but it turns out great.

Then glue your bushes, grass, etc...

Thanks for all the advice.

You guys make it sound pretty straight forward. I'm thinking I might have watered down my PVA too much and maybe that's why it isn't holding the ballast as much as I would have expected. I'll try some of the suggestions out and see how I go thanks all